EAST RUTHERFORD &dash; Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch running it down the Giants throats is one thing. That can be viewed as a man-on-man fight they were consistently losing.

Quarterback Russell Wilson scampering uncontested on the edge on a zone-read run is a completely different story. Wilson has the option to hand it to Lynch up the middle or keep it for himself and run to the sideline. He kept it nine times for 91 yards and scored a touchdown last Sunday in the Seahawks' 38-17 victory.

The Giants admit they didn't do a good job ‐ against that play and the run (350 total rushing yards). Luckily (or maybe not so luckily), they have a chance for redemption this week if they can fix their mistakes. The 49ers run the same scheme with quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Frank Gore.

Against the Seahawks, the Giants (3-6) were embarrassed Almost to a man, they said so themselves after the loss in Seattle. They must improve greatly this week against the 49ers (5-4) if they intend to have any chance to beat the superior team.

"We weren't on the same page [against Seattle], either schematically or people not doing their jobs. It is what it is," defensive end Robert Ayers said. "Hopefully we can make those improvements [for the 49ers]."

What do they need to improve? They can start with knowing their assignments, and containing the edge when that is their responsibility. They failed in both regards on Sunday. They might also change their scheme. The Giants, for the most part, asked their linebackers and safeties (not their defensive ends) to protect the edge against the Seahawks. It didn't work.

Let's take a look:

Zone read No. 1

This is a first-and-10 play in the first quarter. Ayers appears to be assigned to Lynch. He goes straight after the Pro Bowl running back.

Linebacker Jacquian Williams seems to have the outside responsibility. But right tackle Jeremy Britt gets a free release, reaches the second level and pins Williams inside. It creates unlimited space for Wilson to run for 8 yards and slide. This prevents him from even taking a hit on the quarterback keeper.

This is a common theme throughout the game. The Giants don't make the diminutive Wilson pay for running the ball.

Zone read No. 2

This is the next play. Very. Next. Play.

Same play, same result. Only this time, it's Ayers and rookie linebacker Devon Kennard.

Again, it's too easy. Ayers and Kennard are in the middle of the line. Wilson is outside by himself for a 12-yard gain. That is 20 yards on back-to-back plays, seemingly exploiting missed assignments by the Giants linebackers.

Zone read No. 3

This one is a little different. This time on first-and-10, the Seahawks pick on the right side of the defense. Defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is responsible for either the quarterback or running back. Safety Stevie Brown, in at this point for the benched Quintin Demps, has the other.

But Pierre-Paul and Brown go after the running back. It appears that Brown realizes his mistake, but it's too late. Wilson gains 26 easy yards.

Zone read No. 4

At this point, the Seahawks see that this play is easy money. They go to the well again on a third-and-2.

The Giants are prepared. Safety Antrel Rolle has Lynch, and even tackles him when he doesn't get the ball. Williams has Wilson. He's in perfect position to get the stop, but gets flat-footed and allows Wilson to beat him outside.

Wilson gains 8 yards on the play and a first down.

Zone read No. 5

Same drive, another third down. This time the Seahawks need four yards. Why not do it again, they figure.

Pierre-Paul has Lynch on the play. Brown has Wilson, and doesn't get caught inside. He makes the play.

Finally, the fifth time is the charm. Wilson gets tackled after a 1-yard gain.

Still, in the first half, Wilson kept it five times on the zone read and gained 55 yards. He picked up three first downs.

"They ran one play—inside read, inside zone all day," Rolle said. "A read play — couldn't stop it, didn't have an answer for it for whatever reason. There's a guy that's supposed to be on the quarterback and the running back dive at all times. It just seemed like if one guy did a job right, another guy did a job wrong."

Only one of the five (zone-read No. 4), in the first half was a physical error. The other four were mental or schematic breakdowns.

As for the second half?

Zone read No. 6

The Seahawks don't waste any time. They're not going to get cute. On their first play of the second half, they went back to the zone read. Whatever adjustments the Giants made (if they heard them and weren't in the bathroom), didn't work.

Wilson goes back to attacking the left side of the defense. There stands Kennard. But the rookie bolts straight to Lynch, who appears to be in the sights of defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka and middle linebacker Jameel McClain.

After the play, frustration starts to set in. Kiwanuka and Pierre-Paul can be seen putting their hands in the air as if to say, "What happened?" McClain has a few words for Kennard after the play as well.

The confusion led to 9 more uncontested yards for Wilson. The Seahawks put themselves in a manageable second-and-short situation.

Zone read No. 7

Wilson let Lynch do most of the work in the third quarter. He didn't get back to calling his own number until the fourth, when the Giants were exhausted and beaten.

But this time the Giants have it played well. Safety Quintin Demps has the edge protected, or so he thinks. Wilson jukes him and gets outside.

Demps hustles and is close enough that he tracks Wilson down from behind and punches the ball loose. Seattle, up 24-17 with 9:40 remaining in the fourth, is fortunate to recover. It may have been a different game if the Seahawks hadn't.

Zone read No. 8

This is a goal-line play. Cornerback Zack Bowman is asked to protect the edge. He doesn't.

Wilson scores. It's now 38-17. Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is furious while walking off the field.

But the Seahawks aren't done embarrassing the Giants yet. Wilson has one more zone-read run on which he keeps for a first down that allows Seattle to run out the clock.

Zone read No. 9

Just before the two-minute warning, the Seahawks are in a second-and-six. They run the same play, with the quarterback keeping it for the ninth time! Still, no Giants answer.

Kennard and Ayers again go for the running back. Kennard gets pinned inside by Britt, who makes it to the second level without any resistance. The Seahawks pick up another eight yards and a first down.

Final tally

Nine read-zone quarterback keepers, 91 yards, five first downs and a touchdown. And a thorough embarrassment for an undisciplined Giants defense.